Thyreophoran vertebrae from the Callovian (Middle Jurassic) of the Vaches Noires cliffs (Normandy,France), with remarks on the dinosaur assemblage from the Vaches Noires

Two associated incomplete thyreophoran dorsal vertebrae from the Callovian Marnes de Dives Formation of the Vaches Noires cliffs, on the Normandy coast, are referred to an indeterminate stegosaur that appears to be different from Lexovisaurus, previously reported from the Callovian of western France. These vertebrae are the first evidence of thyreophorans from the Vaches Noires and complement the dinosaur assemblage from this locality, which hitherto consisted of several theropod taxa and an indeterminate sauropod. The dinosaur record from the Vaches Noires is heavily dominated by theropods and this imbalance is difficult to explain. A possible explanation may be that the dinosaur sample from the Vaches Noires is too small to be statistically significant and representative of the original faunal assemblage from which it is derived.     

Ultrasound-Targeted Microbubble Destruction (UTMD) for Localized Drug Delivery into Tumor Tissue

Background

Ultrasound-targeted microbubble destruction (UTMD) is a type of ultrasound therapy, in which low frequency moderate power ultrasound is combined with microbubbles to trigger cavitation. Cavitation is the process of oscillation of gas bubbles causing biophysical effects such as pushing and pulling or shock waves that permeabilize biological barriers. In vivo, cavitation results in tissue permeabilization and is used to enable local delivery of nanomedicine. While cavitation can occur in biological liquids when high pressure ultrasound is applied, the use of microbubbles as cavitation nuclei in UTMD largely facilitates the induction of cavitation. UTMD is intensively studied for drug delivery into tumor tissue, but also for the activation of anti-tumor immune responses. The first clinical studies of UTMD-mediated chemotherapy delivery confirmed safety and efficacy of this approach.

Inner structural organization of the distal humerus in Paranthropus and Homo

The taxonomic attribution of isolated hominin distal humeri has been a matter of uncertainty and disagreement notwithstanding their relative abundance in the fossil record. Four taxonomically-based morphotypes, respectively representing P. boisei, P. robustus, non-erectus early Homo and H. erectus, have been identified based on the cross-sectional outer shape variation of an assemblage of Plio-Pleistocene eastern and southern African specimens (Lague, 2015). However, the existence of possible differences between Paranthropus and Homo in the inner structural organisation at this skeletal site remains unexplored. We used noninvasive imaging techniques to tentatively characterize the endostructural organization of five early Pleistocene distal humeri from South Africa (TM 1517g, SK 24600, SKX 10924, SKX 34805) and Ethiopia (Gombore IB), which have been variably attributed to Paranthropus or Homo. While the investigated specimens reveal diverse degrees of inner preservation related to their taphonomic and diagenetic history, in all but SK 24600 from Swartkrans we could comparatively assess some geometric properties at the most distal cross-sectional level (%CA, I_x/I_y, I_max/I_min) and quantify cortical bone thickness topographic variation across the preserved shaft portions by means of a 2-3D Relative Cortical Thickness index. Whenever possible, we also provided details about the site-specific organization of the cancellous network and measured the same parameters in a comparative sample of twelve adult extant humans. For most features, our results indicate two main patterns: the first includes the specimens TM 1517g, SKX 10924 and SKX 34805, while the second endostructural morphotype sets apart the robust Homo aff. erectus Gombore IB specimen from Melka Kunture, which more closely resembles the condition displayed by our comparative human sample. Notably, marked differences in the amount and pattern of proximodistal cortical bone distribution have been detected between Gombore IB and SKX 34805 from Swartkrans. Given its discordant outer and inner signatures, we conclude that the taxonomic status of SKX 34805 deserves further investigations.     

Osteoblastic proliferative activity of Epimedium brevicornum Maxim.

The effect of the extracts of Epimedium brevicornum Maxim. was investigated on proliferative activity in vitro. The osteoblast-like UMR106 cells was employed as an osteoblast model. The EtOH extract and the n-butanol fraction from the crude extract were found to show proliferation stimulating activity. Three flavonoid compounds (icariin, epimedin B and epimedin C) were isolated from this fraction by activity-guided assay, and the effects on cell proliferation were studied. Icariin produced the most significant promoting effect on the proliferation in osteoblast-like UMR106 cells. The results suggested that E. brevicornum Maxim. extracts might have potential activity against osteoporosis, and flavonoids such as icariin might be the active constituents stimulating osteoblasts.     

RFP134对UMR106细胞膜脂流动性的影响(英文)

癌细胞具有与正常细胞不同的膜脂流动性,导致细胞对生长因子和癌基因产物反应敏感;引起细胞增殖失控。本实验室从植物中发现一种二萜类活性物质──RFP134,在细胞周期和信号传递等多方面表现出有抑制癌细胞增殖,促进细胞分化的作用。本文以大鼠成骨肉瘤细胞（UMR106）和正常大鼠成骨细胞为模型,研究其对癌细胞膜脂流动性的影响。细胞系UMR106由美国麻省总医院内分泌室赠送。成骨细胞由本实验室分离培养。以不同浓度（20、40、60、80、100μM／L）的RFP134,在同一时间处理细胞,或以最适浓度（50μM／L）在不同时间作用于细胞。DPH为荧光标记物,测得的荧光偏振值和微粘度值为膜膜流动性指标。结果显示,无论在恒定的时间、以不同浓度的RFP134作用于UMR106细胞（Fig.1B）,或以恒定的浓度、在不同时间处理UMR106细胞（Fig．1D）,结果均表现为显著降低膜脂流动性。前者,RFP134作用于细胞时,细胞荧光偏振值与微粘度值逐步升高,其变化呈量效关系;而后者,呈时效关系。但在最适浓度与最佳作用时间,荧光偏振值和微粘度值达饱和状态。在同样条件下,RFP134对正常成骨细胞的膜脂流动性影响极小。即：荧光偏振值和微粘度值均在正常范围内保持恒定（Fig．1A;Fig．1C）。RFP134降低癌细胞的膜脂流动性     

A method to measure redox potential (Eh) and pH in agar media and plants shows that fungal growth is affected by and affects pH and Eh

The specificities of the plant environment and its effects on fungal growth are not yet fully explored. Both pH and Eh play a key role during this interaction, but are often studied independently or at different scales. We aimed at investigating whether the methods developed for the joint characterization of the pH and Eh in soil could be transposed to fungi. On artificial media, the growth of all 16 species tested significantly altered either Eh, pH or both. Measuring Eh reveals that even the species not modifying pH can have an impact on the surrounding environment. Reciprocally, fungi responded to pH and Eh parameters, both quantitatively with a decrease in colony diameter and qualitatively with colony aspect repeatedly and thoroughly modified. In infected oilseed rape plant stems, pH and Eh were significantly altered. The observed alcalinisation or acidification correlates with canker length. The joint characterization of both parameters will allow understanding the impact of fungi on their environment, and conversely of the environment on fungal growth. The availability of methods for measurement opens the prospect to study combinations of stresses, and get an understanding of the involvement of pH and Eh modifications in these interactions.